Mathew Tembo’s music fuses indigenous Zambian vibes with contemporary sounds to create a truly unique form. His latest album, Dadi Mwana, resounds in upbeat Afro-fusion, reggae fueled tracks, featuring lyrics in various languages skillfully married with music performed on handmade instruments – the silimba (local marimba), kalumbu (one-stringed instrument), and kalimba (thumb piano). Mathew is a trailblazer, going against the musical status quo in Zambia of computerized pop. He has shared stages with world music stars 3Ma, Oliver Mtukudzi, and Michael Rose of Black Uhuru and has collaborated with Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, the guitar playing, freedom-fighting, first president of Zambia. Wherever he tours, audiences simply cannot resist the urge to tap their toes, shake their hips, and skank their way out of their seats and onto the dance floors. Mathew Tembo and the NIU Afropop Ensemble will be appearing live at the House Cafe on Friday 3/23 as part of the Green Paws Environmental Alliances ReUse-a-Palooza.